Understanding Work Abilities for Older Adults' Independence
Assessment of Health-Related Work Capacity to Improve Independence of Older Adults
This research helps us understand how older adults' physical and mental abilities relate to their capacity to work and live independently.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11099776 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many older adults want to continue working or stay independent, but we don't always have good ways to compare their health abilities with what different jobs require. This project aims to create a new way to measure how well older adults can perform tasks, considering their thinking, physical strength, coordination, and senses. We will design surveys to gather information from a wide range of people, regardless of whether they are currently working. This will help us learn how abilities change with age and how different job opportunities affect healthy aging and independence.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants for this type of research would be older adults interested in sharing information about their functional abilities and work experiences.
Not a fit: Patients not interested in contributing to survey-based research on work capacity and independence may not directly benefit from this particular grant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better support and opportunities for older adults to maintain their independence and participate in the workforce.
How similar studies have performed: While components of this research build on existing knowledge, the integrated framework for assessing health-related work capacity is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard Medical School — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maestas, Nicole a — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Maestas, Nicole a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.